· A - Define (explain) the IT concept The Google Person Finder is new website that is made for the people who lost their family due to the disaster (Earthquake and Tsunami) in Japan. Basically, it is a website that collects all the information about the lost people from various agencies so that both of agencies and people who lost their family can save their time to find people. It’s kind of relational database in a large scale since it’s a collection of people’ data. Before the Google Person Finder came out, people had to call several agencies to find their lost families, which can be delayed a lot. Moreover, in Japan, it was impossible to use telephones due to overuse and, therefore, the Internet was only way to connect with others, which was perfect timing for the Google Person Finder to come out. By 26th April, there were 518,700 records on the website. It is accessible for everyone who can use the Internet. · B - Describe a specific example in an area of impact Economics – Since the website can replace the agencies’ work and save time, the agencies can focus on recovering the disaster area more that will help to recover the economy in Japan quickly. Furthermore, as Google Person Finder helps to find missing people, the family members would feel confidence once they searched on the website, then they will consume which causes good effect of Japanese economy. Society – Since it has privacy and abuse issues, it will have a great impact on the society. It could be really bad news for the users of Google Person Finder, but the Google Person Finder itself has a huge advantage of searching missing people in a short time. · C - Discuss the advantages and disadvantages on the main stakeholders As I said, the biggest advantage on the main stakeholder, the users in Japan, is that people can find or at least get information about missing people quickly. There are two more advantages. One advantage is that since it’s a large version of relational database, it can prevent data redundancy. Another advantage is that since it is multilingual, people from all over the world can participate in the system; it can provide more information to people about missing people. However, since the information is collected from everyone, it can be not so reliable. Moreover, due to the purpose of the website, there is no permission of using someone’s pictures or address, which can cause privacy problem. Moreover, there could be abuse of people’s information issue as well, which is a disadvantage on the victims. These were mainly in the users’ position. For Google, one of the main stakeholders, I would say they only have one disadvantage on them, which is no financial profit. Because Google has to run the website constantly, they have to put money in without getting back. It’s more like to donation rather than business. On the other hand, although the Google Person Finder doesn't really make financial profit, Google can achieve good reputation that could be greater benefit for the company potentially. · D - Evaluate the top 3-5 ethical/social issues in order of significance. I think the reliability is the biggest problem because everyone can put someone’s profile that could be just made up. It can be annoying or dangerous for the people who are looking for missing people. Since wrong information can disappoint the people who are seeking missing people, it would be better if the person who puts someone’s information also puts his/her contacts on the website so that the others can contact with the person to check whether the information is correct or not. Also, it would be possible to ask the person the place where he/she has seen the missing people. About the privacy issue, because of the many cases that people are looking for missing families in disaster area, I think it shouldn't be stopped due to the privacy issue. If it becomes a serious issue, I think it would be better to limit the information only about the victims in the disaster area. Another issue is the abuse of the Google Person Finder. Since everyone can access to the website, the information of the victims is exposed to everyone so that their information can be used for bad purpose. For example, a business company might send a spam mail or text message to the victims. To prevent this, I think people should not put someone’s personal contacts rather than he/her conditions because his/her family would know his/her contacts so it will be enough to tell missing people’s condition.
· A - Define (explain) the IT concept
The Google Person Finder is new website that is made for the people who lost their family due to the disaster (Earthquake and Tsunami) in Japan. Basically, it is a website that collects all the information about the lost people from various agencies so that both of agencies and people who lost their family can save their time to find people. It’s kind of relational database in a large scale since it’s a collection of people’ data. Before the Google Person Finder came out, people had to call several agencies to find their lost families, which can be delayed a lot. Moreover, in Japan, it was impossible to use telephones due to overuse and, therefore, the Internet was only way to connect with others, which was perfect timing for the Google Person Finder to come out. By 26th April, there were 518,700 records on the website. It is accessible for everyone who can use the Internet.
· B - Describe a specific example in an area of impact
Economics – Since the website can replace the agencies’ work and save time, the agencies can focus on recovering the disaster area more that will help to recover the economy in Japan quickly. Furthermore, as Google Person Finder helps to find missing people, the family members would feel confidence once they searched on the website, then they will consume which causes good effect of Japanese economy.
Society – Since it has privacy and abuse issues, it will have a great impact on the society. It could be really bad news for the users of Google Person Finder, but the Google Person Finder itself has a huge advantage of searching missing people in a short time.
· C - Discuss the advantages and disadvantages on the main stakeholders
As I said, the biggest advantage on the main stakeholder, the users in Japan, is that people can find or at least get information about missing people quickly. There are two more advantages. One advantage is that since it’s a large version of relational database, it can prevent data redundancy.
Another advantage is that since it is multilingual, people from all over the world can participate in the system; it can provide more information to people about missing people.
However, since the information is collected from everyone, it can be not so reliable. Moreover, due to the purpose of the website, there is no permission of using someone’s pictures or address, which can cause privacy problem. Moreover, there could be abuse of people’s information issue as well, which is a disadvantage on the victims.
These were mainly in the users’ position. For Google, one of the main stakeholders, I would say they only have one disadvantage on them, which is no financial profit. Because Google has to run the website constantly, they have to put money in without getting back. It’s more like to donation rather than business. On the other hand, although the Google Person Finder doesn't really make financial profit, Google can achieve good reputation that could be greater benefit for the company potentially.
· D - Evaluate the top 3-5 ethical/social issues in order of significance.
I think the reliability is the biggest problem because everyone can put someone’s profile that could be just made up. It can be annoying or dangerous for the people who are looking for missing people. Since wrong information can disappoint the people who are seeking missing people, it would be better if the person who puts someone’s information also puts his/her contacts on the website so that the others can contact with the person to check whether the information is correct or not. Also, it would be possible to ask the person the place where he/she has seen the missing people.
About the privacy issue, because of the many cases that people are looking for missing families in disaster area, I think it shouldn't be stopped due to the privacy issue. If it becomes a serious issue, I think it would be better to limit the information only about the victims in the disaster area.
Another issue is the abuse of the Google Person Finder. Since everyone can access to the website, the information of the victims is exposed to everyone so that their information can be used for bad purpose. For example, a business company might send a spam mail or text message to the victims. To prevent this, I think people should not put someone’s personal contacts rather than he/her conditions because his/her family would know his/her contacts so it will be enough to tell missing people’s condition.
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